"My dear, everybody has cousins; and people are not responsible for them. She is a poor relation, whom Mrs. Wishart has here for the purpose of befriending her; she'll marry her off if she can; and you would do as well as another. Indeed you would do splendidly; but the advantage would be all on their side; and that is what I do not wish for you."
Tom was silent. His sister remarked that Mrs. Wishart really was not a match-maker.
"No more than everybody is; it is no harm; of course she would like to see this little girl well married. Is she educated? Accomplished?"
"Tom can tell," said the daughter. "I never saw her do anything. What can she do, Tom?"
"Do?" said Tom, flaring up. "What do you mean?"
"Can she play?"
"No, and I am glad she can't. If ever there was a bore, it is the performances of you young ladies on the piano. It's just to show what you can do. Who cares, except the music master?"
"Does she sing?"
"I don't know!"
"Can she speak French?"